Internet of Things (IoT)

The idea of seamless communication between people, processes and things has existed for some time, but it is only in recent years that the Internet of Things has emerged as one of the central technologies of the 21st century. Nowadays, it is no longer a challenge to connect everyday objects such as cars, kitchen appliances, audio equipment to the Internet.

This physical world now meets the digital world and the two cooperate. This is because the devices are able to collect and share data with minimal human involvement. This data (Big Data) can then be analyzed and evaluated using computing solutions.

Neural networks have enabled Natural Language Processing (NLP) to IoT devices (e.g. Alexa, Cortana, Siri, SAP Co-Pilot) and made them attractive, affordable and usable for private use.

But access to low-cost and low-power sensor technologies is also enabling more and more manufacturers to produce products for IoT technology.

Thanks to numerous networking protocols for the Internet, connecting sensors to the cloud and other things is made easier and ensures efficient data transfer. Last but not least, the increased availability of cloud platforms allows businesses and consumers to access the infrastructure they need to scale up without actually having to manage everything.

In particular, companies that use or can use sensor devices have benefited from IoT processes in the past.

In Manufacturing:

• Production line monitoring
• Proactive maintenance of equipment
• Measuring sensors and detecting when production performance is affected
• Check devices remotely for freedom from errors
• Reduction of operating costs
• Improvement of operating times

In Transport and Logistics:

• Improved tracking
• Detour due to environmental conditions (e.g. weather, temperature)
• Warnings for possible damage for sensitive goods such as food (pharmaceutical industry, flowers or similar).

Retail:

• Improved inventory management
• Monitoring and optimization of customer satisfaction
• Improved availability of goods, as it is possible to react (proactively) to supply bottlenecks in good time
• With an optimized supply chain, operating costs can be reduced
• Weight sensors, smart shelves, RFID-based information
• Targeted offers and promotions

Public Sector:

• Improved service, especially with state utilities (water, electricity, sewage, garbage)
• Record the extent of an outage and provide resources

Healthcare:

• Localization and use of medical aids (e.g. wheelchairs)
• Accounting based on an accurate proof of use for physical tangible assets